Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



' vMmm 15,1927. www@ J. F. @CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK AISORBNG MECHNISM Filed April 26, 1923v 2 Sheetwsheet 2 @fa ff/,5 /f W fff/, M l y fw@ I I I the wedge faces 26 of the pressure transmitting clement C and adztptcd to coact therewith. Each of the slices C is a'so provided with a laterally extending: flange 3l adapted toco-act with one of the shoulders of the shell, thereby limiting;I the outward movement of the shoes.

The two sets of spring plaies l) are inlerliosed between the o "insite neef-ure transmitting elements B, and tend to yieldingly hold the same in separated relation. llach of the sets of spring' plates l) comprises a plurality of nested curved plates'. as clearly' shown in Fig. l, bearing on the wear plates F abutting; the flat faces 23 of the pressure transmitting' elements 13. and spaced apart by the centrally arranged spec-in;l plate E.

The inner ends of the friction shoesare directly engaged by the springr follower plate H, :reacting with the spring resistance Grinterposed between the latter and the rear wall 21 of the' spring' cage. Inward 1novement of the follower plate H is limited by engagement of the .follower 17. with the front Walls of the casting A, thereby preventing the spring resistance G from being driven solid and transmitting the actuating force directly to the casting A. The spring resistance G is inserted under initial comw pression and normally holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the flanges 32 of the friction shoes C in abutment with Ithe shoulders 23 of the castin'fe A.

The operation of the mechanism, assuming an inward or buiiing movement of the draw-bar is as follows: As the follower' 17 is moved inwardly toward the shell, the pressure transmittinpT elements B will be forced inwardly, thereby carryingr the wedge shoes C therewith opposed by the resistance of the spring G, there being' substantially no relative movement between the pressure transmitting' elements B and the wedge friction shoes C due to the bluntness of the coacting wedge faces 26 and 29, respectively. thereof. During the inward movement of the wedge system, -as the wedge faces 28 of ,the shoes travel on the wedge faces 22 of the shell, there will be a sinuiltaneous bodily movement of the'shoes together with the,

i elements B relatively toward eachother transversely of the mechanism, thereby conipressingl the yielding means comprisingthe spring plates D. It will be evident that during this operation, in addition to the frictio created between the wedge faces 22 and 2 lof the shell and shoes, friction will also be created between faces 24 of the shoes and the inner surface of the front follower 17, as the shoes slide laterally thereon. This movement will continueuntil the compress ing force is discontinued, or the shoes are arrested in their movement by engagement of the springfollower with the mouth of readers force the initial action will be a slight mo'venient of the elements B laterally outwardly on the faces 29 of the shoes C, due to the expanding' action of the spring means comprising the sets offplates D.v This initial action facilitated by the relative bluntness of the ctv-operating wedge faces 26 and 29 of the elements B and shoes C. As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 a slight clearance isy left between the fiat faces 27 of the elements B and the fiat faces 30 of the shoes C, to permit of this movement.- The wedging pressure'on the faces 28 and 22 Aof the shoes and shell respectively is thus relieved, permitting the spring resistance G to restore allot the parts to normal position, asishown in Fig: 1` with the flanges 31 of .the shoes C and the shoulders 12B of the elements B engaging the shoulders 23 and the lugs 122 of the shell, respectively. The faces 27 and 3() of the elements B and shoes C will be slightly spaced apart, as shown'.

During' draft, the operation of the mechanism is the reverse of that just described, the casting A being moved toward the front ifollower 17, which is held stationary'.

'ln actual practice, lwhen the parts are assembled the yielding means. comprising the sets of spring.,T plates D-D is placed under initial compression, whereby compensation for wear on the engaging faces of the parts is had, a slight clearance being left between the outer edges of the flanges 31 of the shoes C' and the shell to permit of this action.

vI have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: l'

1. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell; o't a sprinarcsistance; and a multiple-part, comprcssible wedge unit, said unit and shell havingn cio-acting friction surfaces disposed ible Wedge unit co-act'ing with said shell wedge faces, said wedge including a plurality of sets of co-acting members, and yield- Ilng means interposed between said sets tending to hold said wedge expanded, one member of each setbeing provided with wedge faces,` some of sind faces` extending at relatively blunt angles and others at relatively keen angles with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mecha nism, the combination with a friction shell provided with interior faces extending at relatively keenvangles with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism; of a spring resistance; a plurality of wedge slices, said shoes being provided with a plurality of wedge faces, some of which are disposed respectively at relatively blunt angles with reference to said axis and others at relatively keen angles with reference to said axis, the keen angled faces thereof co-acting with the 'shell wedge faces; a lurality of pressure transmittingelements isposed between said wedge shoes; saidelements being provided with blunt wedge faces adapted to eo-act with the blunt wedge faces of said shoes; an'd resilient means interposed between said elements tending to hold them expanded,

4. In a friction shock absorbing mechay nism, the combination with a friction shell provided with interior wedge faces; 'of a 4 spring resistance; a plurality of pressure transmitting elements provided with .wedge faces; resilient means vfor'holding sald ele- `ments separated; wedge shoes interposed between said elements and shell wedge faces and substantially co-extensive therewith; and co-acting means on said shell and shoes forlimiting the outward movement of the latter relatively to the shell@4 5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior wedge faces, yextending at a relatively keen angle with reference to the longitudinal axis Aof the mechanism; of pressure transmitting -wedge unit including f a plurality of elements having lwedge faces extending at relatively blunt angles with reference to saidfaxis, means for yieldingly holding said elements separated, and a shoe interposed 4between each of said elements and the shell, said shoes having wedge faces correspondingly inclined to the wedge faces of the said elements and shell, respectively; a s ring resistance co-operating with said wedheunit; and a spring follower interposed between the inner ends of said shoes and lsaid spring resistance.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having a pair of inwardly converging wedge faces on the interior thereof; ofa' Wedge unit including a pair of pressure transmitting elements yprovided with wedge faces,

resilient means interposed transversely be-y tween said elements,"and a pair of frietlon lshoes interposed between said elements and shell' lwedge faces, saidshoes having wedge faces co-acting respectively withfthe wedge faces of the shell and lements; and means for yieldingly'resistin movement of'said shoes inwardly of the s ell.

T. In a' friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having a pair of inwardly converging wedge faces on the interior thereof, said wedge faces extending at a relativelykeen angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism; of a wedge unit including a pair of pressure'transmitting element s,=

`of the shell.

8. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell,

having interior wedge faces, extending. at relatively 'keen angles with reference tov the longitudinal axis of the mechanism; `of wedge shoes having wedge facescorrespondingly inclined to the wedge faces of said shell, and having interior wedge-faces 'disposed at relatively blunt releasing angles with reference to said axis; pressure transmitting elements having wedge facesl correlll() spending to the blunt ,wedge facesof said wedges; yielding means for spreading said elements; and a inain spring resistance. i

V9. In av friction shock absorbing mechanism. the combination with a friction shell provided with interior faces, extending at relatively keen angles with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism; of a spring resistance; a plurality of wedge shoes, each of said shoes being provided with a keen wedge face` adapted to cooperate with one of said shell faces;` `and a plurality of spaced wedge faces, disposed at relatively blunt releasinol angles with reference tosaid axis; a plurariity of Apressure transmitting elements provided with blunt wedge faces adapted to coact with the blunt Wedge faces of said shoes, said elements being arranged to have limited relative movement with reference to said wedge shoes during release;

and resilient means for holding said'elements expanded. i

10. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination \with a friction shell having interior Wedge faces conver inginlthe faces of said elements; and yielding means resisting movement of said shoes inwardly of the shell.

'11; In a friction shock absorbing mechanism.v the combination with acombined friction. shell and springcage, said friction shell having inwardly converging fiat surfaces; of a friction unit cri-operating with the shell,

said unit including a. pair of friction ele-` n'ients having Hat surfaces correspondinglyv 4inclined to said shell surfaces and co-operatingtherewith; a paii` of pressure transmitting elements, eachv of said pressure transmitting elements and `friction elements yhavingv cti-operating faces converging inl wardly of the mechanism at a different angle than said first named surfaces, and'yielding means interposed between said pressure vtransmitting elements -comprising curved spring plates; and afspring resistance withl in said cage opposing inwardmovement of said friction unit. i

v12. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with aspring cage` casting having a=`fric'ti on shell sectioiiat the frontend thereof, said-friction' shell section` being l'inovide'd with `opposed inwardly converging surfaces ;A of a pair-of friction shoes i ico-operating with' the opposed vsurfaces yof the shell section; a pair o-f pressuretransinitting elements, each of said elements and one of said -friction shoes having interengaging co-operatingsets of'surfaces converging inwardly of the Inechanisin'and disposed at a blunter angle with respect to said axis than the surfaces of saidshell section; 'yielding means resisting' lateral approach of said pressure transmitting elements, said i means being interposed therebetween; and a spring resistance within said cagey`ieldingly opposing movement of said pressure transmitting elements. 1 13. In a. friction shock absorbing mechanisin, the combination with a friction shell having inwardly converging opposedffric- 'tion surfaces adjacent` one'end thereof; of

a pair of 'friction shoes co-operating with said opposed shell surfaces and havingfaces correspondingly inclined to said shell surfaces; a pair of pressure transmitting elements fro-operating respectively with vsaid shoes, eachof said shoes and the corresponding pressure transmitting element having co-operating surfaces, converging inwardly of the mechanism and disposed at a bluiiter angle with respect to said axis than the lshell surfaces; two sets of curved spring plates interposed between said pressure transmitting elements; and' means within the shell yieldingly resisting movement of said shoes and pressure transmitting elements.

14. In 'a friction shock absorbing mechanisiiiI` the combination with a combined spring cage and friction shell. the friction shell thereof having inwardly converging opposed surfaces; a pair of friction shoes provided with friction surfaces co-operating with said shell surfaces. said shell and slices having cri-operating` transverse abutment faces for limiting outward movement of the shoes; a pair ofp'ressure transmitting elements, said elements and shoes having cooperating surfaces converging inwardly;

yielding means interposed between said pressure transmitting elements resisting lateral approachthereof; 'and main spring resistance-opposinginward movement'l of said pressure transmittingelements -and shoes.

l5. In a friction shoclcabsorbing mechanisni, the combination with a shell having opposed friction surfaces adjacent the front end thereof` said surfaces converging inwardly of the mechanism, said shell and shoes having co-operating 'shoulders for limiting the outward movement of said shoes; a pair of pressure transmitting eleiiientsfdisposed at opposite sides of the mech- -anisin and co-operating respectively with the shoes', said shoes and..-pressure transmitting elements 'havingco-operating faces converging inwardly of the mechanism; means for limiting the outward `vmovement of said pressure Vtransmittingelements; a plurality of spring plates interposed between said pressure transmitting elements yieldingly opposing 'lateral approach of the latter; and inea iis yieldingly resistingr inward movement ofsaid pressure 4 transmitting elements and shoes. Y

16. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a shell having opposed, inwardly converging faces at one .end thereof; ,apair ofshoes cti-operating with .said opposed surfaces :y a pair of wedge blocks-cooperating with said shoes: two sets of curved spring platesy interposed between ico said wedge blocks and lresistinglateral approach thereof:y a main spring resistance opposing inwardv movement of said ywedge 4 blocks and shoes; and a spring follower interposed between said spring resistance and `ing yan abutment for the inner ends of said said wedge blocks, said spring follower forin- 

